Order-box for train-despatchers.



No. 819,945. PATBNTED MAY 8, 1906.

D. 0. STINSON. ORDER BOX FOR TRAIN DBSPATGHBRS.

APPLICATION FILED APB.12, 1905.

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WITNESSES.- Zfl B y W M A/fzmmi DANIEL O. STINSON, OF FALKVILLE, ALABAMA.

ORDER-BOX FOR TRAlN-DESPATCHERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

n-ntenteo May 8, 1906.

Application filed April 12, 1905. Serial No. 255,184.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL O. STINsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Falkville, in the county of Morgan and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Order-Box for Train-Despatchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in order-boxes, and has for its object to provide a device to be used in connection with the signals of railwaytrains that will revent the operator from overlooking the elivery of train orders.

The object of my invention is to provide an order-box in which train-despatchers or telegraph-operators shall keep train orders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for automatically locking the signallevers so that they cannot be operated when the door of the order-box is o ened, thereby reminding the operator to eliver his order.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing one side of the box, the door of the compartment at that side being closed. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing said door opened. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View showing one side of the box of the door opened. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken through the drawer arranged in the box. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the forward central extension of the box carrying the locks for locking the door in an open position.

In carrying out my invention I employ a box A, which is divided by means of a partition into two compartments B and C, having doors B and C hinged to the front for the purpose of closing the said compartment. These compartments are intended to receive the train orders, one compartment being intended for orders relating to north-bound trains and the other compartment intended to receive orders relating to south-bound trains, where the line is a north and south line, and for east and west bound trains when the line is an east and west line. Each door is provided with a spring-lock D for holding the door closed, and each door is also provided with a latch E, which engages a lock F, carried by a central forwardly-projecting portion G of the box, said projecting portion being arranged directly between the doors B and C, so that when either door is open the latch will engage the lock F and hold the door open until released by means of a key which is under the control of the operator, said key being ordinarily contained in a drawer H, arranged in the box, preferably between the compartments. Each door has a rod I, pivotally connected to the upper edge thereof, which rod is pivotally connected at its rear end to a lever K, pivoted to the top of the box at K, and rigidly connected to said lever is an upright shaft L, having an integral arm L adjacent the upper end, the upper end of said shaft being journaled in the ceiling or top'of the room, as shown at L in Fig. 1.

M indicates the levers for operating the train-signals, said levers having rods M depending from their inner ends and carrying rings'M at their lower ends.

N indicates a board extending down- Wardly from the ceiling, having the vertical notches N produced in the lower edge adjacent the opposite sides.

0 indicates a signal-card rigidly attached to the shaft L, said card being arranged in such a manner that when the door of the compartment is closed the edge will be turned toward the operator, whereas when the door is open the face of the card is turned toward the operator. Furthermore, when the door is open the rod 1, operating upon the lever K, will turn the shaft in such a manner as to bring the arm L directly beneath the lever M, and if the operator should absent-mindedly pull upon the rope M when a train is approaching it will be impossible for him to o erate the signal, and the train will according y stop for orders.

When a train-despatcher receives an order for a particular train, he opens the compartment for receiving the order, and in opening the said compartment the door is locked in an open position, the signal-card is turned toward him, and the arm L thrown into such position that he cannot operate the train-signal. In addition to this I provide a holder P upon the top of the box adjacent each end for the purpose of receiving a card or tag bearing the number of the particular train for which the orders have been received, so that the train-despatcher will not only be warned in reference to the direction of the train, but will also have the direction of the train placed directly in front of him. The train-despatcher cannot close the compartment-door without first unlocking the said door; but this will of course serve to remind him that he has orders to be delivered before the door can be closed. When there are no orders to be delivered to a train, the levers M can be pulled down and brought into engagement with the slotted end of the board N, thereby indicating to an approaching train that there are no orders.

An order-box constructed, arranged, and operated as herein shown and described has proved highly efficient and certainly tends to avoid the non-delivery or the mixing of train orders.

If desired, the box can be provided with a supplemental top A for the purpose of protecting the rods and levers and preventing the operation of the device being interfered Xgith by placing papers or books upon the Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an orderbox,

provided with a door, of'a signal-lever arranged over the box, and a shaft provided with a locl ing-arm operative means connected to the door for locking the lever for the purpose set forth.

The combination with an order-box, provided with doors, of signal-levers arranged over the box, and a shaft connected to the doors of the box for locking the levers, as set forth.

3. The combination with an order-box, provided with a door, of a signal-lever ar ranged over the box, a bar connected to the door of the box, a lever connected to the said bar, a shaft connected to the lever, and means carried by the shaft for locking the levers, as set forth.

4. The combination with an order-box, provided with doors, of signal-levers arranged over the box, a latch for locking the doors and shafts provided with arms adapted to engage the levers and locking the same when they are in an opened position, as set forth.

' 5. The combination with an order-box provided with a door, of a signal-lever arranged over the box, a shaft connected to the door of the box, and a signal-card carried by the shaft for the purpose set forth.

6. An order-box for train-despatchers use, comprising a box divided into compartments, each compartment being provided with a door, said'door being provided with spring fastening means for looking it in an open or closed position, together with signal devices operatively connected with the doors, as set forth.

7. An order-box for train-despatchers use, comprising a box divided into compartments, each compartment having a door carrying a spring-actuated locking device, the shafts provided with arms for locking signal-levers, and means for connecting the'said shafts with the doors, for the purpose set forth.

8. An order-box for train-despatchers use, comprising a box having a centrally-projecting portion, and provided into compartments, locks arranged in the said projecting portions, each compartment having a vertical jaw carrying a spring-catch, locking-levers arranged over said door, shafts provided with arms for locking the signal-levers, and means for connecting the said shafts to the doors, for the purpose set forth.

DANIEL O. STINSON.

Witnesses:

ED WETZEL, F. A. MASSEY. 

